England without Pickford concede three to Spain | OneFootball

England 2 – 3 Spain

With Anthony Gordon’s prescient wisdom that controlling games is not in the English “DNA”, saying the Three Lions could win major tournaments if only they stop “trying to replicate Spain” ringing in their ears, England take on the mighty Iberians at Wembley on Saturday evening.

And there are no less than three Everton players in the rejigged squad since James Garner was called up to join Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite after a slew of Thomas Tuchel’s preferred players decided the honour of playing for England wasn’t for them:

This will be England’s first competitive game since they came agonisingly close to playing Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final (if like me you’ve forgotten the virtually pointless 3rd-place playoff that ensued).

Tonight could be an interesting game pitting two of the best national teams in the world against each other. Or could be yet another international borefest. Join us here and watch on ITV 1 tonight, kick-off is at 7:45 pm BST.

So three Everton players (and two former Everton players) on the subs bench.

But it was a shocking, terrible, embarrassing giveaway by Guehi in the 2nd minute that saw Yamal beat Trafford with consummate ease to put England behind. Absolutely criminal play by these Premier League elites.

Spain played like World Champions and could easily have been out of sight… but the second goal evaded them and England turned the whole game on its head with two quick and well-worked goals before half-time.

After half-time, England kept up some very determined pressure and were somewhat fortunately rewarded when Bellingham drew a clear foul that the ref initially ignored until the VAR told him to review it on the monitor. Penalty!

However, Kane slipped as he took it and the ball smacked back off the crossbar.

And Spain got level again after a mistake by O’Reilly. James Garner (Number 18) replaced Lewis-Skelly some minutes later, with Morgan Rogers replacing Gordon.

But two simple passes through the England defence saw Oyarzabal chip deftly over Trafford, who had now conceded 3 in the England goal.

Garner got to the byeline but put in a terrible cross high above Calvert-Lewin.

Jarrad Branthwaite came on for 1 minute of normal time and 5 minutes of added time but played the ball backward and then gifted a terrible pass to Yamal, much to the ire of the Wembley crowd who wanted to see England push for another goal. Branthwaite came close to getting on the end of a corner that was the last action of a pretty decent flowing game, Spain just too good.

England: Trafford, Quansah, Konsa, Guehi (89′ Branthwaite), O’Reilly, Anderson, Lewis-Skelly (70′ Garner), Bellingham, Saka (83′ Gibbs-White), Gordon (70′ Rogers), Kane (83′ Calvert-Lewin).